The city explored through contemporary art interventions
An ‘absurdist mash-up’ of 18th and 20th century history is one of the
centrepieces of a major new arts project which places exciting contemporary
art in hidden and sometimes surprising parts of York.
Janet Hodgson’s The Workshop of Historical Correction, created with
choreographer Lea Anderson and composer Matt Wand, can be seen in
York’s medieval Fishergate Postern Tower throughout York Curiouser (14
June to 7 July – Tower open 10am to 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays) – new
site-specific artworks in lesser-known part of the city by leading artists from
around the UK who have been inspired by its rich history.
The installation will include a new short film, The Postern
(https://vimeo.com/97641952) which will be displayed on a large screen on
the top floor of the Postern Tower. Visitors will climb a steep winding staircase
to reach this groundbreaking new work which is just one part of an installation
that fills the entire tower. Janet has been tutoring and working with a group of
fine art students from York St John University whose specially made artwork
suggesting a museum workshop will be installed on the first two floors. The
third floor has a single monitor of a choirboy singing a Dada-inspired piece.
In The Postern, Janet Hodgson collides two historical periods: the Georgian
period and the early 20th century with references to choreographer Mary
Wigman who choreographed the first dances at the Dada Cabaret Voltaire.
The film features young couples in period costume walking the City Walls
played by students from both universities in York. As they climb the steep
staircase to their dance they meet Mary Wigman and so begins an
extraordinary performance where Georgian gentility meets Dada smash.
Janet Hodgson says: “One of the stories about the Fishergate Postern Tower
was that in the Georgian period, there was dancing and singing for private
assembles. It’s not certain that this is fact. However, taking it at face value I
am making a costume drama that shows the remaking of this story, ready to
go out and take its place amongst the histories of York today.”
York Curiouser co-curators Hazel Colquhoun and Lara Goodband say: “When
we introduced Janet to this unusual and rarely seen historic tower we knew
that she would produce something extraordinary and thought-provoking.
Janet's scale of ambition and attention to detail has created an absurdist
mash-up which is an important addition to contemporary art practice.”
Other artists taking part in York Curiouser are writer and poet John
Wedgwood Clarke; installation artist Susanne Davies; textile artist Sally
Greaves-Lord; artists Matt Hawthorn, Heinrich & Palmer and Jacques
Nimki; sound artist Damian Murphy, and ceramicist Karen Thompson.
York Curiouser is supported by a series of artists’ talks, workshops, family
events and walking tours. Please visit yorkcuriouser.com for more information.
The final weekend of the project coincides with the start of the Tour de France
Grand Départ in York, and is part of the 100-day Yorkshire Festival
accompanying the tour. It is also part of the University of York’s annual
Festival of Ideas.
For more information on York Curiouser and the artists: yorkcuriouser.com
Twitter: @yorkcuriouser
Facebook: facebook.com/yorkcuriouser
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yorkcuriouser
Flickr: York Curiouser 2014
Further media information: Jeannie Swales at Turnstone Media:
info@turnstonemedia.co.uk or 07968 953737
-EndsNotes to editors
A major element of York Curiouser is education, from primary through to
tertiary. University of York students are attending a series of workshops led by
the Co-Artistic Directors. Both the University of York and York St John
University are hosting artists in residence who are developing new artwork
alongside students from a range of disciplines. York Curiouser is also
offering artist-led workshops in primary and secondary schools.
York Curiouser has many strands and partners in York including the National
Centre for Early Music and the Quilt Museum. It has made links with a range
of York community groups and organisations who are meeting with and
briefing the artists and helping with sites and venues. These include the River
Foss Society, Friends of York Walls, the Centre for Early Music, English
Heritage, National Trust, and York Conservation Trust.
The project has received funding from Arts Council England through Grants
for the Arts, City of York Council, The University of York, York St John
University and the National Centre for Early Music.